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Adolf Galland

Adolf Galland Quotes

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Adolf Galland, a renowned German pilot during World War II, was known as the 'Red Baron.' He was exceptional in aerial combat, credited with downing 87 enemy aircraft, making him one of the most successful pilots in the German Air Force.

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Famous Adolf Galland Quotes

“The battle is tough but if you reach where you want to go, then at least in some sense it is worth it.”

Ifs Want Battle Tough Worth It

Author:Adolf Galland

“I had to inspect all fighter units in Russia, Africa, Sicily, France, and Norway. I had to be everywhere.”

Russia Fighter France Units Norway

Author:Adolf Galland

“And most of these pilots were lost during the first five flights.”

Firsts Lost Five Flight Pilots

Author:Adolf Galland

“It's unbelievable what one squadron of twelve aircraft did to tip the balance.”

Balance Twelve Unbelievable Aircraft

Author:Adolf Galland

“For the first time I was flying by jet propulsion. No engine vibrations. No torque and no lashing sound of the propeller. Accompanied by a whistling sound, my jet shot through the air. Later when asked what it felt like, I said, "It felt as though angels were pushing".”

Firsts Said Felt Sound Air Shots Angel First Time Flying Flight Aviation Pushing Engines Vibrations Jet Whistling Propulsion Torque Propeller

Author:Adolf Galland

“Only in the spirit of attack, born in a brave heart, will bring success to any fighter aircraft, no matter how highly developed it may be.”

Heart May Matter Spirit Born Brave Fighter Congratulations Aircraft Brave Heart

Book:The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

Source: The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

“Flying is more than a sport and more than a job; flying is pure passion and desire, which fill a lifetime.”

Life Inspirational Jobs Desire Passion Sports Pure Lifetime Flying Flight Meaning Of Life Aviation Passion And Desire

Author:Adolf Galland

“During the Battle of Britain the question "fighter or fighter-bomber?" had been decided once and for all: The fighter can only be used as a bomb carrier with lasting effect when sufficient air superiority has been won.”

Has Beens Used Air Effects Battle Decided Fighter Sufficient Britain Bombs Aviation Lasting Superiority Carrier Bombers Air Power Airpower Battle Of Britain

Book:The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

Source: The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

“Never abandon the possibility of attack. Attack even from a position of inferiority, to disrupt the enemy's plans. This often results in improving one's own position.”

Results Enemy Plans Possibility Position Aviation Abandon Improving Inferiority Air Power Airpower

Author:Adolf Galland

“"He who wants to protect everything, protects nothing," is one of the fundamental rules of defense.”

Want Protect Fundamentals Defense Aviation Air Power Airpower

Book:The First and the Last: The Rise and Fall of the German Fighter Forces, 1938-1954

Source: The First and the Last: The Rise and Fall of the German Fighter Forces, 1938-1954

“To use a fighter as a fighter-bomber when the strength of the fighter arm is inadequate to achieve air superiority is putting the cart before the horse.”

Use Air Achieve Arms Horse Fighter Aviation Superiority Inadequate Carts Bombers Air Power Airpower

Book:The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

Source: The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

“Superior technical achievements - used correctly both strategically and tactically - can beat any quantity numerically many times stronger yet technically inferior.”

Used Achievement Beats Stronger Superiors Aviation Quantity Inferiors Air Power Airpower

Book:The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

Source: The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

“I would like to mention that I have flown the 262 first in May ‘43. At this time, the aircraft was completely secret. I first knew of the existence of this aircraft only early in ‘42 - even in my position. This aircraft didn’t have any priority in design or production.”

Firsts May Secret Existence Design Position Productions Priorities Aircraft

Author:Adolf Galland

“Their element is to attack, to track, to hunt, and to destroy the enemy. Only in this way can the eager and skillful fighter pilot display his ability. Tie him to a narrow and confined task, rob him of his initiative, and you take away from him the best and most valuable qualities he posses: aggressive spirit, joy of action, and the passion of the hunter.”

“The first rule of all air combat is to see the opponent first. Like the hunter who stalks his prey and maneuvers himself unnoticed into the most favourable position for the kill, the fighter in the opening of a dogfight must detect the opponent as early as possible in order to attain a superior position for the attack.”

Firsts Order Air Position Superiors Opening Fighter Opponents Aviation Combat Hunters Prey Stalking Unnoticed

Book:The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

Source: The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

“Today it is even more important to dominate the . . . highly sophisticated weapon systems, perhaps even more important than being a good pilot; to make the best use of this system.”

Important Use Today Weapons Aviation Combat Pilots Sophisticated

Author:Adolf Galland

“An excellent weapon and luck had been on my side. To be successful, the best fighter pilot needs both.”

Needs Sides Successful Weapons Luck Fighter Excellent Being Successful Aviation Combat Pilots Fighter Pilot

Book:The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

Source: The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

“It is true to say that the first kill can influence the whole future career of a fighter pilot. Many to whom the first victory over the opponent has been long denied either by unfortunate circumstances or by bad luck can suffer from frustration or develop complexes they may never rid themselves of again.”

Source: The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

“As a fighter pilot I know from my own experiences how decisive surprise and luck can be for success, which in the long run comes only to the one who combines daring with cool thinking.”

Thinking Knows Long Running My Own Luck Surprise Fighter Aviation Combat Pilots Daring Long Runs Fighter Pilot

Author:Adolf Galland

“According to Goering and the Luftwaffe High Command, they were supposed to be the fighter elite.”

Command Fighter Supposed To Be Elites Goering

Author:Adolf Galland

“When I was fired from my post as General of the Fighter Arm, I was to give proof that this jet was a superior fighter. And that's when we did it. I think we did it.”

Thinking Giving Arms Proof Superiors Fighter Posts Jet Downsizing

Author:Adolf Galland

“Many pilots of the time were the opinion that a fighter pilot in a closed cockpit was an impossible thing, because you should smell the enemy. You could smell them because of the oil they were burning.”

Should Opinion Enemy Impossible Smell Oil Fighter Burning Pilots Impossible Things Fighter Pilot Cockpit

Author:Adolf Galland

“I made a written report which is still today in existence. I have a photocopy of it, and I am saying that in production this aircraft could perhaps substitute for three propeller- driven aircraft of the best existing type. This was my impression.”

Made Stills Today Three Existence Written Type Productions Driven Impression Reports Substitutes Aircraft Propeller

Author:Adolf Galland

“We have built a total of about 1250 of this aircraft, but only fifty were allowed to be used as fighters - as interceptors. And out of this fifty, there were never more than 25 operational. So we had only a very, very few.”

Used Built Fighter Fifty Aircraft

Author:Adolf Galland

“The German Luftwaffe always fought without any reserves. This is also the reason why we have pilots with extremely high numbers of victories.”

Reason Numbers Victory Reason Why Pilots Reserves

Author:Adolf Galland

“The colossus of World War II seemed to be like a pyramid turned upside down, and for the moment the whole burden of the war rested on the few hundred German fighter pilots on the Channel coast.”

World War Whole Moments Hundred Down And Burden Fighter War Of The Worlds World War Ii Pilots World War I Coast Pyramids Upside Down Fighter Pilot Colossus

Book:The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

Source: The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945

“If we would have had the 262 at our disposal - even with all the delays - if we could have had in '44, ah, let's say three hundred operational, that day we could have stopped the American daytime bombing offensive, that's for sure.”

Ifs Three Hundred Offensive Delay Bombing Daytime

Author:Adolf Galland

“Nine g's is good, if the pilot can stand it. We couldn't stand it. Not in the airplanes of World War II.”

Ifs World War Nine War Of The Worlds World War Ii Pilots Airplane World War I

Author:Adolf Galland

“Of course, the outcome of the war would not have been changed. The war was lost perhaps, when it was started. At least it was lost in the winter of '42, in Russia.”

Has Beens War Courses Lost Changed Winter Russia Outcomes

Author:Adolf Galland

About the Author

Born: March 19, 1912
Died: February 9, 1996
Known for: Author
Quotes: 29

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Fighter Aviation Pilots Combat Fighter Pilot Air Power Aircraft Airpower Firsts Air

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Books & Sources

The first and the last: the rise and fall of the German fighter forces, 1938-1945Related source material

The First and the Last: The Rise and Fall of the German Fighter Forces, 1938-1954Related source material

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